F-1 Employment
While studying at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³», international students under the F-1 visa have a few options of employment benefit depending on each student’s circumstances. To avoid violation of F-1 visa status, read the information below carefully.
Each practical training type has a dedicated webpage link that will help you understand immigration regulations on the topic, eligibility requirements, how to apply and other considerations you may need to know.
Speak with an adviser if you have questions. We are here to help you find the best type of practical training that fits your situation. Please remember, ANY off-campus employment requires work authorization prior to the start of your employment.
F-1 On-Campus Employment
F-1 students are eligible to work on campus at any time during official academic semesters and breaks, including summer, winter, and spring breaks. Students must be fully enrolled at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³», maintain an active and good-standing SEVIS status.
Check our On-Campus Employment webpage for more infomation.
F-1 Off-Campus Employment
F-1 international students have the opportunity to obtain off-campus practical training experience in their field of study with the proper work authorization.
All practical training off campus is considered employment, thus requiring authorization from the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» International Student Center and/or U.S Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to starting the internships. Students must meet specific eligibility requirements for each type of practical training, and are encouraged to discuss their employment options with an ISC advisor before submitting an application form for any off-campus work or internship during their studies and upon graduation from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³».
Working off-campus without proper authorization is illegal and has serious consequences that could result in termination of the SEVIS status, loss of student visa, and could be a trigger for deportation proceedings.
Types of Practical Training
Students may be eligible to participate in off-campus internships during academic sessions or official academic breaks if their program/course requires, or offers, the opportunity for practical training.
The internship period is limited to the same length as the course enrollment for each specific semester and must be approved by the ISC prior to the student start of the internship.
Students have the option to start their OPT prior to the completion of their degree program. This option is only worthwhile if the student is not eligible for CPT and the practical training start date is inflexible.
Any time used prior to the completion of the program is subtracted from the total 12-month of OPT.
Upon completing any degree program at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³», F-1 visa students become eligible to apply for a 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization in their field of study within the United States. This authorization requires a formal application and payment of a processing fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Once the OPT application is submitted, processing may take up to four months. Students must carefully adhere to all deadlines related to the application process, maintain their OPT status, and report employment details through the SEVP Student Portal.
Click here for complete information about Post-Completion OPT.
When nearing the completion of the Post-Completion OPT, students who graduated in any degree level in a STEM major of study are eligible to extend their work authorization for another 2 years. The students must apply for STEM OPT Extension through USCIS, and a decision can take up to 4 months to be rendered.
The STEM major and CIP Code listed in the student’ SEVIS I-20 document must be officially listed in the Department of Homeland Security STEM Designated Degree Program List to fulfill eligibility requirements.
Severe Economic Hardship
Off-campus employment is available for F-1 students who are facing due to an unforeseen change in their financial circumstances. The student must have compelling evidence that shows the severe financial need beyond the student’s control when applying for this work authorization benefit through .
USCIS states that students should look for on-campus employment opportunities first, before applying for Severe Economic Hardship.
If the student is approved for Severe Economic hardship, they would be eligible to work a maximum of 20 hours per week.
USCIS may grant severe economic hardship EADs in 1-year intervals, not to extend past the expected date of completion of the student’s current course of study. Severe economic hardship EADs may be renewed while the student continues to maintain status and is in good academic standing. Severe economic hardship employment authorization terminates when the student transfers from one school to another or when the need for employment ceases. If the student is maintaining status, beginning a new educational program at the same school does not terminate the student’s employment authorization.
- You must have been in F-1 status for 1 full academic year.
- Students who have been in F-1 status more than 1 year, but are in their first or second semester at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³», are generally not eligible unless the changes in their financial circumstances are extreme.
- You must be a full-time student in good academic standing.
- Students on probation are not eligible.
- You must try to find on-campus employment before applying.
- You must be able to demonstrate that off-campus employment is necessary due to unforeseen financial circumstances. The possible circumstances could include:
- Loss of a scholarship or assistantship
- Death or severe illness of the sponsor
- Bankruptcy or other financial disaster of the sponsor
- Retirement or illness of the sponsor Student’s excessive medical bills
- Substantial devaluation of the currency of the student’s home country
- Political or economic upheaval in the student’s home country
It is important to provide substantial documentation to the as proof of the change in your economic circumstances.
Note: Students are not always sure if their circumstances meet the eligibility requirements for this type of employment. If you are unsure, you are welcome to make an appointment with one of the International Student Advisors to discuss your particular situation and see if you do qualify.
Translation of documents
You may provide documentation in your home language, but you must include an attached translation. You may translate documents yourself, and you must write on the translation that you are fluent in both languages, and that this is a true and accurate translation.
Types of documents
Types of documents may vary depending upon whether it is from your home country or from the U.S. Here are some examples (you may have other examples):
- A letter from a sponsoring agency or a professor documenting the loss of a scholarship or assistantship
- Personal letters from your sponsor describing the situation
- A document from your sponsor’s attorney or accountant
- A letter from your sponsor’s company
- Copies of your sponsor’s medical bills or a death certificate
- A document from your medical doctor / copies of your excessive medical bills
- Copies of magazine or newspaper articles which show changing circumstances in your home country, including currency fluctuations
You must submit your employment application to the International Student Advisor before it can be sent to the .
Step 1: Make an appointment
You should make an appointment with the the International Student Advisor, who will determine if your financial need has been adequately verified with substantial documentation (see "Documentation" section above).
Step 2: Complete paperwork
If you are determined to be eligible, your advisor will help you to complete the required paperwork, including Form I-765. When this paperwork is complete, the ISC will send it to the USCIS with a request for you to receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Step 3: Processing time
After your Advisor sends your paperwork to the USCIS, it will take approximately 3-4 months for the application to be processed and, if approved, for you to receive your EAD.
F-2 Dependents: Employment
Dependents of an F-1 visa holder are not eligible for employment under any circumstances.